Bamako is the lively Capital of Mali Friendly people, and a laid back atmosphere. The museum is well worth a visit; with a nice collection "of masks, terracottas" and an excellent collection of textiles.
Afriqiyah Airways Bamako Flights
Outbound flights from London to Bamako are operated thrice a week every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and the inbound flights are also operated thrice a week only i.e every Monday, Friday and Sunday.
Resturants and bars in Bamako
District guide
Historical background
Entertainment
Fun Facts
Quick Facts
Did You Know?
Orientation
Resturants and bars in Bamako
Le Byblos is probably the best night club of Bamako. From 12:30 till done everyday, you can enjoy both local and international music. Mali has well known international artists, the most famous being probably Salif Keita. They can mix Salif Keita directly between Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, which could be surprising in Europe and very normal there. You can meet people form everywhere, barmaids come from Russia and Ukraine. The main advantage is that the majority of the people come there to dance and gate fee is quite high for the country (CFA 5,000) what prevents too many money girls to enter and harrass you. The place to be during the weekends. You will meet expatriates and the golden boys of Mali. Wealthy Malians come to show their money and their girlfriends. You have the choice between the large ventilated terrasse and the small airconditionned bar inside. Decoration is made of local material. Large choice of cocktails and wines, the bar is also a restaurant but on the spot (grilled chicken, khebabs, etc. Good music, good meeting point A good place to start the night.
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District guide
Originally, the city developed on the northern side of the river, but as it grew, bridges were developed to connect the north with the south. The first of these was the Pont des Martyrs (2-lane with 2 pedestrian sections) and the King Fahd Bridge (4-lane with 2 motorcycle and 2 pedestrian sections). Additionally, there is a seasonal causeway between the eastern neighborhoods of Sotuba and Misabugu inherited from colonial times (alternated traffic on 1-lane with 5 crossing sections). The Sotuba Causeway ( "Chaussée submersible de Sotuba" in French, and "Babilikoroni" in Bamanankan) is typically under water from July to January. A third bridge (1.4 km long, 24 m large, 4-lane with 2 motorcycle and 2 pedestrian sections) is being built at the same location to reduce downtown congestion, notably by trucks.
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Historical background
The area of the city has been continuously inhabited since the Palaeolithic era for more than 150,000 years. The fertile lands of the Niger River Valley provided the people with an abundant food supply and early kingdoms in the area grew wealthy as they established trade routes linking across west Africa the Sahara and leading to northern Africa and Europe. The early inhabitants traded gold, ivory, kola nuts and salt. By the 11th century the Empire of Ghana became the first kingdom to dominate the area. Bamako had become a major market town, and a centre for Islamic scholars, with the establishment of two universities and numerous mosques in medieval times.
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Entertainment
Music boom in Bamako took off in the 1990s , when the vocalist Salif Keita and the singer-guitarist Ali Farka Touré achieved international fame. It attracted a number of tourists, record producers and aspiring musicians to the city to try to follow in their footsteps. It is common to see musicians in the streets with djembes and percussion bands playing traditional Bamana rhythms. The range of ethnicities involved in Bamako's music scene are diverse, including singers and instrumentalists from Mali's myriad tribes; the Tuaregs of the Sahara, the Sorhai of Timbuktu, the Malinkes from the border region south of Bamako, the Dogon cliff dwellers, the Wassalous near the Ivory Coast, the Peuls of central Mali etc. Bars and nightclubs have grown rapidly including Mr. Keita's Mofu and Oumou Sangare's Hotel Wassulu which featured Malian and other west African artists. Notable western artists such as Robert Plant, Ry Cooder, Bonnie Raitt, John Lee Hooker and the French Basque star Manu Chao have all visited Bamako to jam and record with notable local musicians.
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Fun Facts
You can eat like the locals for a few hundred CFA a day, or shop in one of the western-style supermarkets. There is one main market, in the centre of town, and several smaller markets in Bamako. Supermarket-style stores are generally run by Lebanese businessmen. La Fourmi Open 9:30am to 6:00pm. Azar Open 9:30am to 6:00pm. Supermarket Le Miniprix It is actually the best one with the best service and with the lowest prices. They have a very clean store and are open from 7:30am to 10:30pm. They also accept US/Canadian Dollars and Euro. These stores will carry Western or Middle-Eastern goods, including cold cuts, fruit and vegetable, and dairy products including fresh milk and yogurt. Prices are generally higher than in Europe or the US, and choice more limited in a way reminiscent of a North-American convenience store.
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Quick Facts
There are many restaurants where you can get nice omelette sandwiches for about 250 CFA. Many street vendors sell bread, rice, fries, salad, grilled meat; however, use precautions while eating on the street. Le Bafing, Quartier du Fleuve opposite the Service d'Hygiène, ☎ 672 0781. Bistrot/Restaurant/Bar in a small street. Eating in a courtyard. Very good and friendly service. Daily special includes local dishes, à la carte steak, fish or spaghetti. Well stocked bar. Recommended. around $5 for main dishes
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Did You Know?
In Bamako you have a high chance of encountering the police. You should always at least carry a copy of your passport and visa. It is often not sufficient to just show your driving license and this might lead to a ride to the police office - if you're not prepared to bribe your way out. Notice that the police often stops taxis. If the price of the 'ticket' seems high (more than, say, 5,000 cfa for a minor offense), ask to go to the police station. There you can get an official receipt which shows the true price of the offense. Many locals consider it a moral issue to pay proper fines rather than grease the pockets of corrupt police.
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Orientation
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For more information about Bamako or flight reservations and booking to Bamako with Afriqiyah call 0203 372 4420.
